Illuminated decorative device



April 25, 1939. E AF I 2,155,822

ILLUMINATED DECORATIVE DEVICE Filed Feb. 19, 1937 INVENTOR 4 Zzercffla BY A ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 25, 1939 PATENT orrrcs 2,155,822 ILLUMINATED DECORATIVE DEVICE.

Elmer J. Graf, Roselle Park, N. J., assignor to G. B. G. Corporation, Newark, N. J.

Application February 19, 1937, Serial No. 126,607

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an illuminated decorative device especially adapted for use in connection with Christmas-tree ornamentation.

It has been the standard practice for the past few years to trim Christmas trees with festoons made up of illuminated lamp structures which are connected in series to a suitable socket associated with a standard 110-volt electric lighting circuit. In the style of festoons in which the units are connected in series, when one unit becomes broken or otherwise disabled, the entire group is rendered inoperative.

It is the object of my present invention to provide an illuminated unit which may be equipped with a 110-v0lt lamp whereby the units may be connected in multiple, so that if one unit burns out or becomes broken, it does not disturb the operation of the others; or the device may be equipped with a low-voltage lamp for series operation. In either case, it is the object of my invention to provide a new form of construction which is highly ornamental in character and one which has useful operating characteristics, such as the quick dissipation of the heat generated in the lamp bulb.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the annexed drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a full-size device suitable for the purpose.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of one-half of the holder shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view on an enlarged scale, with slightly difierent means for mounting the lamp structure in the holder.

Figure 4 is a view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the collars or clamping members shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a view of a large single-star unit. The same unit may, however, be the same size as shown in Figure 1.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show different forms of the rim portion of the unit.

Figure 10 is a view on the line lIl--Ill of Figure 6.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of another form of unit, with a portion of the rim broken away.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of still another form of unit.

Figure 12a is a part-sectional and part-elevational view through Figure 12, just in front of the lamp.

of two pieces of translucent material, preferably Axially spaced from the rim in another plane, is l a centrally located hub portion 2 from which extend a plurality of members 3 toward the rim I, the parts 3 being moulded or made integral with the hub 2 and the rim portion I.

As will be seen from the different figures, the members or crystals 3 taper from the points 4 toward the rim I, leaving open spaces 5 adjacent the inner periphery of the rim. These openings provide a large area of ventilated surface to allow the heat from the bulb to escape from the holder so that no great amount of heat is concentrated in the unit. The two pieces of the holder, after being made, and as illustrated in Figure 2, are fastened together in some satisfactory manner,

as by a suitable cement; or, as shown in Figures 6 and 10, by spring clamps 6 which are snapped over the two rim portions I. When the clamps 6 are used, as many of these may be snapped over the rim portions as desired. The rims I may be provided with small holes therein and suitable wire passed therethrough, and the ends twisted together.

Preferably, the members 3 are provided with facets, at least on the exterior surface thereof,

but it is not so important that the interior por- 3 tions of the crystals 3 have facets.

From the construction described, it will be readily seen that a chamber is formed within the two parts of the holder, and within this chamber a lamp bulb I is adapted to be inserted through the hole 8 left between the ends of the two halves of the rim I, which rim is thus arcuately slightly less than 360.

To the lamp structure is fastened a collar 9' which may be made of a material which will allow the ends III to fold uptoward the axis of the lamp structure, whereby the bulb may be passed through the hole 8, after whichthe ends It! will move or snap outwardly into the position shown in Figures 1 and 3, it being understood that the ends I0 have arcuate seats I3 therein to engage the rim I, thereby preventing the bulb from being pulled out of the holder. A locking ring II is applied to the stem I2 to clamp or anchor the lamp structure in position.

The collar 9 may be made of metal and the ends I!) rather rigid, in which case, when the lamp is inserted in the holder, the lamp structure is turned. at an angle of 90 from that shown in Figure 3, and the bulb inserted through the hole 8 until the collar 9 is below the rim, and then the lamp structure is turned back so the recesses I3 will engage the rim, after which the clamping ring I I is applied to the stem I2.

In Figure 6 I have shown a five-pointed star on a larger scale. Such a unit may be used at the top of the tree, or it may be made in the smaller sizes shown in Figure 1 for general ornamentation throughout the tree. It is therefore clear that the number of crystals may vary considerably. Likewise, the shape of the rim portions may be varied in cross-section as indicated by Figures 7, 8 and 9. While these figures show the two parts of the rim as meeting on a common plane, this is not necessary as the contour of this surface may vary, the main requirement being that they are inter-fitting so as to preferably provide a rim having symmetrical characteristics. The two halves of the holder may be made in different colors so as to give different effects when viewed from opposite sides of the holder.

In Figure 11, I have shown an ornamental unit in which the rim I is in the form of a fiat strip which may be of insulating material, but preferably of metal, having parts I4 punched out of it to form an ornamental design or configuration. The rim I in this case has ears I5 with holes therein to receive the ends II? of the various parts 3, making up one of the ornamental side members. In this particular form of unit the inner part of the front and back side members may be more or less flat, while the outer surfaces thereof are broken up into facets to produce the ornamental effect. Each side may be moulded as a complete unit, or the various portions 3 may be separate units held in place at their outer tapered extremities in the manner already described and by suitable cement means I 1 between the various parts 3 of the unit. When the separate construction is used, I prefer to use with the cement means I I, finely crushed glass, which adds to the ornamental efi'ect, as this is preferably of a different color from the members 3 which meet around the central hub portion 2, the same as in Figure 1. In Figure 11, the two ends of the rim I are fastened together by an insulator I 8 which is preferably rigidly fastened to the stem I2 of. the: lamp.

In Figure 13 the ends of the rim I are arcuately formed at I9 at right angles to the plane of the rim I and have ears 20 which are held together in any satisfactory manner as by rivets 2|. An internal insulator 22 is fastened to the stem I2 of the lamp bulb.

In Figure 12, I have shown a unitary lighting device having front and back sides 23 and 24, each having ornamental rims 25 and a central ornamentation 26. In this figure, the front and back members 23 and 24 have tapering projecting portions which may actually come together at the points 21, at which points the ends are fas tened in any satisfactory manner as by fine wire or metal snaps. In this form of device the lamp bulb structure has fastened thereto an insulator 28, and this in turn is fastened at 29, in any satisfactory manner, to the front and back members 23 and 24.

From what has been said, it will be seen that many of the details may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An illuminated decorative device of the class described comprising a holder of translucent material, the holder being composed of an outer boundary member, the ends of which are spaced apart to form an opening, two sets of radially extending members tapering toward and terminating in said boundary member, the two sets of members being spaced apart from a plane including the arcuate center of said boundary member toform an interior chamber, a lamp structure having a bulb and stem, the bulb being insertable through said opening into said chamber, and means carried by the stem for engaging the boundary member to hold the lamp structure in position, with the stem projecting away from the holder for mounting the unit directly in a current-supply socket.

2. An illuminated decorative device of the class described comprising a holder of translucent material, the holder being composed of an incomplete rim of substantial width and area, an opening being left therein, two sets of. crystals extending radially each-from a common central portion to the rim and anchored thereto, the said central portions being axially spaced to as sist in forming a chamber, a lamp structure having a bulb and stem, the bulb being insertible through said opening into said chamber, and means carried by the stem for engaging the rim on opposite sides of the opening, with the stem projecting away from the holder for mounting the unit directly in a current-supply socket.

3. An illuminated decorative unit for the purpose described comprising a two-piece holder of translucent material, each piece consisting of; an outstanding rim portion slightly under a full circumference, leaving an opening between the ends of the rim, a central hub portion displaced in a plane spaced from the rim, and faceted, pyramidally shaped members radiating from the hub to the rim and integral with both, the tips of the pyramidal portions where they join the rim being arcuately spaced around and within the inner periphery of the rim means for fastening the rims of the two pieces together to form a rim of considerable breadth and area and also to form a chamber, a lamp structure having a bulb and stem, the bulb being located within the chamber and the stem projecting through the opening in the rim, and means for anchoring the lamp structure directly to the holder with the stem projecting for mounting the unit directly into a current-supply socket.

4. An illuminated decorative unit as set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that the lamp stem has a collar which will fold up toward the stem when a bulb is used that will pass through the rim opening and which will snap under the rim after its ends have passed the rim.

5. An illuminated decorative unit as set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that the lamp stem has a collar long enough to more than span the opening in the rim to thereby engage the rim,, and of a width which will pass through the opening when the lamp structure is turned from its normal position in the unit.

6. An illuminated decorative unit as set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that the two rims have interfitting surfaces to provide a complete rim having a symmetrical appearance.

'7. An illuminated decorative unit for the purpose described comprising a two-piece holder of glass, each piece having approximately one-half of a rim portion of translucent material of substantial area and a surface to fit the other half of the rim and an arcuate length somewhat under a full circumference, thereby forming an opening between the ends of the rim, a central hub displaced axially from the rim and tapering crystals solidly formed around and extending from the hub to the rim and anchored to both, means for fastening the two rim halves together to form a substantially symmetrical rim and a chamber in the holder, a lamp structure hav-'- ing a bulb and stem, the bulb being within the chamber, and the stem extending through the opening in the rim for mounting the unit directly into a current-supply socket, and means for anchoring the lamp structure directly to the holder.

8. An illuminated decorative unit of the class described including a holder composed of two sets of radially extending translucent members, each set of members having a common center and tapering generally outwardly therefrom, the centers being laterally spaced apart to form a chamber for a lamp bulb, a circular rim of substantial thickness of translucent material for receiving the outer ends of said members and being fastened thereto, and a lamp bulb structure having a bulb and stem carried directly by the rim, with the bulb extending within said chamber, and the stem extending away from the rim and serving as the sole means for mounting the unit.

9. An illuminated decorative unit of the class described including a circular, ornamental rim and two ornamental sides, the latter of which at least are of translucent material and having their central portions spaced laterally away from each other to form a space therebetween, and having radially extending tapered portions meeting at arcuately spaced points in said rim, and being fastened thereto and a lamp bulb structure having a bulb and stem carried directly by the rim, and the bulb within said space and the stem extending from the rim and serving as the sole means for mounting the unit.

ELMER J. GRAF. 

